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On each indicator, the best-performing state was given a score of 0, and the worst a score of 100, with the score of the others depending on their relation to the two extremes.

The scores on all the indicators were then averaged out to give each state an overall rating.

Joy: Minneapolis is in Minnesota, the least miserable state in the Union

Topping the misery index is Mississippi, with a total score of 73.17. The average income in the state is around $31,000, while 15.4 per cent of residents are unemployed or underemployed.

Close behind are other Southern states such as Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas.

The highest-placed states from outside the South are New Mexico and Nevada, named the eighth and ninth most miserable states respectively.

At the other end of the table, the least miserable state is apparently Minnesota, whose overall score of 20.12 reflects its clean environment and average income of more than $42,800.

New Hampshire is in second-last place, followed by North Dakota, Vermont and Massachusetts.

THE MOST MISERABLE...

1. Mississippi - 73.17

2. Louisiana - 71.38

3. Alabama - 68.00

4. South Carolina - 66.71

5. Arkansas - 63.41

6. West Virginia - 62.41

7. Oklahoma - 61.33

8. New Mexico - 61.30

9. Nevada - 60.97

10. Kentucky - 60.72

...AND THE LEAST

1. Minnesota - 20.12

2. New Hampshire - 21.28

3. North Dakota - 22.13

4. Vermont - 22.81

5. Massachusetts - 25.78

6. Iowa - 26.80

7. Hawaii - 27.04

8. Nebraska - 28.03

9. South Dakota - 28.06

10. Wisconsin - 28.96

The country's biggest states generally fared poorly in the ranking - witht the exception of New York, which is only the 27th most miserable state. Florida took 12th place, with Texas 15th and California 16th.

It is unclear quite why the South fares so poorly in the list. One reason may be historical - each of the top five states was a member of the Confederacy, and had its economy ravaged by the Civil War and its aftermath.

But some may prefer to point to more recent explanations - such as the fact that Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama are all on the Gulf Coast, which has been ravaged by disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill.